A Brief Respite

Brightblade's review proved to be exactly what Arran had expected.

She spent three days going over every spell and seal he had learned, evaluating his progress in excruciating detail. And whenever she encountered a gap in his knowledge, she smugly corrected the Matriarch's oversight.

That her main concern was with one-upping her old friend was obvious, but Arran benefited all the same. Even if he had initially been reluctant to spend even yet time learning magic, he soon discovered that Brightblade's insights were extremely helpful.

She was every bit as knowledgeable about magic as the Matriarch, and if her lessons weren't quite as structured and organized, at least she did not have him study past nightfall.

Still, Arran rejoiced when they finished with the last of the spells.

Brightblade might be more pleasant as a teacher than the Matriarch, but after a month of working incessantly on the useless spells and seals, he desperately needed a change of pace.